Costa Rica cuts ties with Cuba

Costa Rica has severed diplomatic ties with Cuba and given consular officials five days to leave the country. The action was in response to a Cuban statement accusing Costa Rica of participating in "a counterrevolutionary campaign against Cuba, organized by the imperialist government of the United States."

The statement was released by Cuba's delegation to the United Nations in response to a note Costa Rica sent to UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim deploring the treatment of political prisoners in Cuba.

Although Costa Rica had renewed relations with Cuba in 1977 after a 15-year freeze, relations between the countries deteriorated sharply after the last year's exodus of over 100,000 Cubans, many of whom were granted entry visas to Costa Rica.